Rolls-Royce flies to Boeing rescue

BOEING has called in Rolls-Royce aerospace to help develop a revolutionary new engine for its planned Sonic Cruiser aircraft. The potentially huge deal comes after concern about pollution and noise prompted Boeing to abandon plans to use a modified version of the jumbo jet engine.

The Cruiser will fly just below the speed of sound and, as Boeing's long-haul jetliner of the future, is crucial for its prospects. After the US terrorist attacks there were suggestions that it would be delayed or even shelved as airlines reviewed purchasing plans.

But news of a multi-million pound research programme into a new engine underlines Boeing's commitment to the project, which will create major spin-off work for British aerospace companies. The planemaker already buys £1.4bn worth of components a year from Britain, supporting about 40,000 jobs. A team of Rolls-Royce engineers is at Boeing's Seattle plant working on the new engine. Rival engine-maker General Electric is also there.

Tom Bell, Boeing's UK president, called the move a 'tremendous opportunity for the UK aerospace industry. The Sonic Cruiser represents a quantum leap in design and technology'. The Cruiser will carry between 200 and 300 passengers and fly at almost 750 mph.